Bogie mounting arrangement



p 29, 1964 w. KUGLER 3,150,611

BOGIE MOUNTING ARRANGEMENT Original Filed July 30, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig. 1.

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INV EN TOR.

WALTER K'UGLER ww- J M ATTORNEY w. KUGLER BOGIE MOUNTING ARRANGEMENT Original Filed July so, 1952 Sept. 29, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 'I/-VV-ENTOR BY by" ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,150,611 BOGIE MOUNTING ARRANGEMENT Walter Kugler, Gumbelstr. 3, Munich 2, Germany Original application July 30, 1952, Ser. No. 301,718, now

Patent No. 2,885,970, dated May 12, 1959. Divided and this application July 31, 1958, Ser. No. 752,281

Claims priority, application Germany, Mar. 25, 1952,

K 13,647 11/2011 16 Claims. (Cl. 105199) The present invention relates to a bogie mounting arrangement for vehicles, and more particularly to a bogie mounting arrangement in which no center pivot is provided on the vehicle for turnably supporting the bogie.

The present invention is a divisional application of the copending application Heumann'et al., for Bogie Mountings of Rail Vehicles, Serial No. 301,718, filed July 30, 1952 on which US. Patent No. 2,885,970 issued to E. Heumann.

It is the object of the present invention to provide an improved bogie mounting arrangement which is not subjected to tractive and braking stresses.

Another object of the present invention is to mount a truck on a bogie turnable about a vertical axis, while leaving a space free at the center of the bogie which is sufficient to accommodate at least part of the vehicle drive mechanism.

With these objects in view, the present invention mainly consists in a bogie mounting arrangement in which a truck is turnably mounted in a recess of a bogie by means of at least one lever assembly arrangement mainly on one side of the mean longitudinal plane of the vehicle and including at least one lever pivotally connected to the bogie at a point of the mean transverse plane of the vehicle.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plane view, partly in section on line 11 in FIG. 2 illustrating one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view on line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view on line 3--3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view schematically illustrating the arrangement of FIGS. 13;

FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view illustrating a modified arrangement of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view illustrating another modified embodiment of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 14, the vehicle frame or body 1 comprises a pair of horizontal top plates 101, 102 from which depends a box-like extension 3 consisting of pairs of vertical end plates 103, 104, vertical side plates 105 and a bottom plate 106. The extension 3, which is of rectangular shape in plan and is arranged symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal and transverse median planes X and Y of the vehicle, is disposed with its major axis in the direction of travel. The bogie or truck frame 2 is also shown as being of a welded plate construction and comprises a top plate 201, bottom plate 202, side plates 203 and transverse plates 204. The

top plate 201 is formed with an aperture 205 through which the extension 3 of the body projects, said aperture being of sufficiently large dimensions to permit the exten- 3,150,61 l Fatented Sept. 29,, 1964 ice sion to turn therein about its vertical axis as the bogie swivels relatively to the body.

The bogie frame in plan is of H-shape having a pair of longitudinally extending arm portions 206 at either end. Each of these arms carries a laminated spring 207 secured to the arm by shackles 208, and a strap 209 on the spring couples the latter to a journal provided in one end of a lever 210 pivoted at its other end at 211 on the bogie frame. Each pair of journals is provided with self-aligning roller bearings 212 in which the shaft 213 of the corresponding pair of rail-engaging wheels 214 is mounted.

The vehicle body is supported on the bogie frame 2 by a spring suspension system comprising a pair of laminated springs 215, one at each side of the vehicle, the ends of which are carried by rods 216. Each rod has secured thereto at its upper end a cap 217 between which and a bracket 218 projecting from the adjacent bogie frame side plate 204 is a coil spring 219. Each spring 215 carries a centrally located strap 220 which is pinned at 221 to a bracket 222 depending from the body frame 1.

The longitudinal forces, i.e. tractive and braking forces, are transmitted between the vehicle body frame and the bogie frame by means of cooperating bearing surfaces, located in the median longitudinal plane X. For this purpose each end Wall 103 of the vehicle frame extension 3 carries a projection 5 having a convex surface abutting against a plane surface of a projection 6 on the adjacent transverse plate 204 of the bogie frame. The convex surface of projection 5 is formed to a radius having as its center the point of intersection O of the planes X and Y. The cooperating surface of each abutment 6 may have a concave form of the same radius as that of the convex surface of abutment 5. The abutments 5, 6 may be welded to the plates 103, 204 or secured thereto in any other convenient manner such as by bolts, rivets or flanges.

The transverse forces are transmitted between the body frame and bogie frame by a quadrilateral system of pivoted levers which also provides for rotational mounting of the bogie relatively to the body. Secured to each plate 104 of the body extension 3 is a bracket 107 arranged in the plane X, and to which is pivotally connected at F one end of a transverse lever 7. v

A quadrilateral linkage is formed by two parallel levers 7 of equal length to the outer ends A of which is articulated a connecting link or lever 8. The pivot point D, which is equally spaced from the points A, is pivotally mounted on the bogie frame 2 in the mean transverse plane Y of the vehicle. The inner ends of levers 7 are connected by pivot means F to a part of the vehicle frame 1.' The pivot points F are located in the mean longitudinal plane X, and symmetrically with respect to the mean transverse plane Y. The pivot point D is spaced from the virtual axis of rotation O for assuring a circular turning movement.

When the bogie travels around a curve, the pivot point D, and thus also the bogie, are caused to move circularly about the virtual axis of rotation 0, since the bearing surfaces of abutments 5 and 6 engage each other without any substantial play, and so prevent any appreciable movement of the axis 0 in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. Consequently, the same effect is achieved as that provided by center pivot pin, but with the advantage that a space is left at the center of the bogie which is sufficient to accommodate at least part of the vehicle drive mechanism.

The pivot points of the lever assembly are preferably constructed so that they are movable in space, for ex- .ample, as ball-and-socket or other universal joints, or rubber-cushion so that the'vehicle is able to travel safely and efiiciently over a banked truck.

FIGS. and 6 illustrate modified embodiments of the invention in the manner of the schematic showing of FIG. 4. The pivot points of the quadrilateral linkage assemblies are again indicated by F and D, F denoting the pivotal connections of said assembly to the vehicle frame or body 1 and D the pivotal connections of said assembly to the bogie or truck 2, while A indicates the points of articulation between the links and the levers of the assemblies. The mean longitudinal axis is again indicated by X and the means transverse axis by Y. The point of intersection O of these axes constitutes the virtual vertical pivotal axis of the bogie. 5 and 6 again indicate the abutments on the vehicle body and bogie respectively by which the tractive and braking forces are transmitted.

FIG. 5 shows an arrangement using two quadrilateral linkages arranged asymmetrically with respect to the mean longitudinal plane X and the mean transverse plane Y. The pivot points F of the levers 7 are displaced outwardly from the plane X and the pivot points D are at a distance from said plane X equal to the length of levers 7. These points D thus form apices of triangles the other corners of which correspond to the pivot points A, these triangles being identical with the triangles formed by the points F, O, F. With this construction, neither the extension 3 of the vehicle frame 1 nor the opening 4 in the bogie frame 2 is arranged symmetrically with respect to the planes X and Y. In addition, the pivot points F of the levers 7 of the quadrilateral linkages are only connected with the vehicle frame 1 on one side of the mean longitudinal plane X. However, since the position of the virtual axis of rotation O is to be maintained in the mean transverse plane Y, each connecting link 8 must be so arranged that the third pivot point D is disposed in said mean transverse plane. In order to avoid undesirable torques, the pairs of abutments 5, 6 are again arranged in the mean longitudinal plane X, as in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 shows a further embodiment of the bogie mounting or guide arrangement. The extension 3 of the vehicle frame 1 is located within an opening 4 of the bogie frame 2, said opening being arranged symmetrically of the mean longitudinal plane X but entirely to one side of the means transverse plane Y. The pairs of abutments 5, 6 are again provided in the mean longitudinal plane X and in the manner indicated, but the bearing surfaces of the projections 5 are radiussed to correspond to the changed position relatively to the virutal axis of rotation O. The quadrilateral linkage consists of two levers 7 which are arranged transversely of the direction of travel and are articulated to the vehicle frame 1 along the mean longitudinal plane X. The connecting link 8, however, is extended beyond one pivot point A of one lever 7 to a position in the means transverse plane Y in which, as in FIGS. 1 and 3, the third pivot point D is arranged and connected with the bogie frame 2.

All the embodiments which have been described have the following feature in common:

The pivot points F on the vehicle frame 1, 3 and the pivot points D on the bogie frame 2 are in principle interchangeable in such manner that then the pivot points D may be articulated on the vehicle frame 1, 3 and the pivot points F on the bogie frame 2. All the pivot points F, D, and A are advantageously mounted in rubbercushioned bearings in order to produce a reduction of impact and a mounting or articulation which has limited movement, is free from Wear, and is elastic and noiseless. For the purpose of minimizing longitudinal impacts, the abutments 5, 6 may be arranged on the vehicle frame and bogie frame respectively with the interposition of an elastic layer, for example, a rubber layer or the like. In order to avoid unacceptably high tensions in the levers 7 with the double-sided arrangement of the quadrilateral linkages as in FIG. 5, it is necessary to provide the pivot-points A and F thereof with such a clearance in the direction of the levers 7 that the clearance perpendicular to said levers between the vehicle 1 and the bogie frame 2 does not produce any appreciable tensile stress in the levers 7. The articulation of the quadrilateral linkages or of the equivalent lever connections, or the fitting of the pairs of abutments 5, 6, should be effected in a horizontal plane.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above may also find a useful application in other types of bogie mounting arrangements different from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a bogie mounting arrangement in which a truck is mounted on a bogie for turning movement by means of a lever assembly, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made Without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a rail vehicle, in combination, a bogie; a truck mounted on said bogie; at least one lateral stress-transmitting lever assembly comprising a pair of parallel transverse levers located at least mainly to one side of the mean longitudinal plane of the vehicle and having inner ends articulated to said truck, and a longitudinal lever pivotally interconnecting the outer ends of said transverse levers and being directly pivotally connected to said bogie, said transverse levers being spaced from the mean transverse plane of the vehicle, and said longitudinal lever being spaced from the mean longitudinal plane of the vehicle to provide space for at least a portion of a drive unit for the vehicle, said lever assembly connecting said bogie and said truck for relative turning movement about a virtual central vertical axis; and means for preventing relative longitudinal movement of said bogie and said truck and including a pair of longitudinally spaced transverse bearing surfaces on said bogie located in said mean longitudinal plane of the vehicle, and a pair of transverse bearing surfaces on said truck also located in said mean longitudinal plane of the vehicle and respectively engaging said bearing surfaces on said bogie and maintaining engagement with the same in any relatively turned position of said bogie and truck.

2. In a rail vehicle, in combination, a bogie; a truck mounted on said bogie; at least one lateral stress-transmitting lever assembly comprising a pair of parallel transverse levers located at least mainly to one side of the mean longitudinal plane of the vehicle and having inner ends articulated to said truck, and a longitudinal lever pivotally interconnecting the outer ends of said transverse levers and being pivotally connected to said bogie at a point located in the mean transverse plane of the vehicle, said transverse levers being spaced from the mean transverse plane of the vehicle, and said longitudinal lever being spaced from the mean longitudinal plane of the vehicle to provide space for at least a portion of a drive unit for the vehicle, said lever assembly connecting said bogie and said truck for relative turning movement about a virtual central vertical axis; and means for preventing relative longitudinal movement of said bogie and said truck and including a pair of longitudinally spaced transverse bearing surfaces on said bogie located in said mean longitudinal plane of the vehicle, and a pair of transverse bearing surfaces on said truck also located in said mean longitudinal plane of the vehicle and respectively engaging said bearing surfaces on said bogie and maintaining engagement with the same in any relatively turned position of said bogie and truck.

3. In a rail vehicle, in combination, a bogie; a truck mounted on said bogie; a least one lateral stress-transmitting lever assembly comprising a pair of parallel transverse levers located at least mainly to one side of the mean longitudinal plane of the vehicle and having inner ends articulated to said truck, and a longitudinal lever pivotally interconnecting the outer ends of said transverse levers and being pivotally connected to said bogie, said transverse levers being spaced different distances in longitudinal direction of the vehicle from the mean transverse plane of the vehicle, and said longitudinal lever being spaced from the mean longitudinal plane of the vehicle to provide space for at least a portion of a drive unit for the vehicle, said lever assembly connecting said bogie and said truck for relative turning movement about a virtual central vertical axis; and means for preventing relative longitudinal movement of said bogie and said truck and including a pair of longitudinally spaced transverse bearing surfaces on said bogie located in said mean longitudinal plane of the vehicle, and a pair of transverse bearing surfaces on said truck also located in said mean longitudinal plane of the vehicle and respectively engaging said bearing surfaces on said bogie and maintaining engagement with the same in any relatively turned position of said bogie and truck.

4. In a rail vehicle, in combination, a bogie; a truck mounted on said bogie; at least one lateral stress-transmitting lever assembly comprising a pair of parallel transverse levers located at least mainly to one side of the mean longitudinal plane of the vehicle and having inner ends articulated in said truck, and a longitudinal lever pivotally interconnecting the outer ends of said transverse levers and being pivotally connected to said bogie at a point located in the mean transverse plane of the vehicle, said transverse levers being spaced different distances in longitudinal direction of the vehicle from the mean transverse plane of the vehicle, and said longitudinal lever being spaced from the mean longitudinal plane of the vehicle to provide space for at least a portion of a drive unit for the vehicle, said lever assembly connecting said bogie and said truck for relative turning movement about a virtual central vertical axis; and means for preventing relative longitudinal movement of said bogie and said truck and including a pair of longitudinally spaced transverse bearing surfaces on said bogie located in said mean longitudinal plane of the vehicle, and a pair of transverse bearing surfaces on said truck also located in said mean longitudinal plane of the vehicle and respectively engaging said bearing surfaces on said bogie and maintaining engagement with the same in any relatively turned position of said bogie and truck.

5. In a rail vehicle, in combination, a bogie; a truck mounted on said bogie; at least one lateral stress-transmitting lever assembly comprising a pair of parallel transverse levers located at least mainly to one side of the mean longitudinal plane of the vehicle and having inner ends articulated to said truck, and a longitudinal lever pivotally interconnecting the outer ends of said transverse levers and being pivotally connected to said bogie at a point located in the mean transverse plane of the vehicle, said transverse levers being spaced different distances in longitudinal direction of the vehicle from the mean transverse plane of the vehicle and located on opposite sides of said mean transverse plane of the vehicle, and said longitudinal lever being spaced from the mean longitudinal plane of the vehicle to provide space for at least a portion of a drive unit for the vehicle, said lever assembly connecting said bogie and said truck for relative turning movement about a virtual central vertical axis; and means for preventing relative longitudinal movement of said bogie and said truck and including a pair of longitudinally spaced transverse bearing surfaces on said bogie located in said mean longitudinal plane of the vehicle, and a pair of transverse bearing surfaces on said truck also located in said mean longitudinal plane of the vehicle and respectively engaging said hearing surfaces on said bogie and maintaining engagement with the same in any relatively turned position of said bogie and truck.

6. In a rail Vehicle, in combination, a bogie; a truck mounted on said bogie; at least one lateral stress-transmitting lever assembly comprising a pair of parallel transverse levers located at least mainly to one side of the mean longitudinal plane of the vehicle and having inner ends articulated to said truck, and a longitudinal lever pivotally interconnecting the outer ends of said transverse levers and being pivotally connected to said bogie at a point located in the mean transverse plane of the vehicle, said transverse levers being spaced dilferent distances in longitudinal direction of the vehicle from the mean transverse plane of the vehicle and being located on the same side of said mean transverse plane of the vehicle, and said longitudinal lever being spaced from the mean longitudinal plane of the vehicle to provide space for at least a portion of a drive unit for the vehicle, said lever assembly connecting said bogie and said truck for relative turning movement about a virtual central vertical axis; and means for preventing relative longitudinal movement of said bogie and said truck and including a pair of longitudinally spaced transverse bearing surfaces on said bogie located in said mean longitudinal plane of the vehicle, and a pair of transverse bearing surfaces on said truck also located in said mean longitudinal plane of the vehicle and respectively engaging said bearing surfaces on said bogie and maintaining engagement with the same in any relatively turned position of said bogie and truck.

7, In a rail vehicle, in combination, a bogie; a truck mounted on said bogie; at least one lateral stress-transmitting lever assembly comprising a pair of parallel transverse levers located at least mainly to one side of the mean longitudinal plane of the vehicle and having inner ends articulated to said truck, and a longitudinal lever pivotally interconnecting the outer ends of said transverse levers and being directly pivotally connected to said bogie at a point located in the mean transverse plane of the vehicle, said transverse levers being spaced equal distances in longitudinal direction from the mean transverse plane of the vehicle, and said longitudinal lever being spaced from the mean longitudinal plane of the vehicle to provide space for at least a portion of a drive unit for the vehicle, said lever assembly connecting said bogie and said truck for relative turning movement about a virtual central vertical axis; and means for preventing relative longitudinal movement of said bogie and said truck and including a pair of longitudinally spaced transverse bearing surfaces on said bogie located in said mean longitudinal plane of the vehicle, and a pair of transverse bearing surfaces on said truck also located in said mean longitudinal plane of the vehicle and respectively engaging said bearing surfaces on said bogie and maintaining engagement With the same in any relatively turned position of said bogie and truck.

8. In a rail vehicle, in combination, a bogie; a truck mounted on said bogie; at least one lateral stress-transmitting lever assembly comprising a pair of parallel transverse levers located at least mainly to one side of the mean longitudinal plane of the vehicle and having inner ends articulated to said truck, and a longitudinal lever pivotally interconnecting the outer ends of said transverse levers and being pivotally connected to said bogie at a point located in the mean transverse plane of the vehicle, said transverse levers being spaced different distances in longitudinal direction of the vehicle from the mean trans verse plane of the vehicle and located on opposite sides of said mean transverse plane of the vehicle, and said longitudinal lever being spaced from the mean longitudinal plane of the vehicle to provide space for at least a portion of a drive unit for the vehicle, said lever assembly connecting said bogie and said truck for relative turning movement about a virtual central vertical axis, the point at which said longitudinal lever is pivotally connected to said bogie and the points at which said longitudinal lever is pivoted to said outer ends of said transverse levers forming a triangle identical with the triangle 7 formed by the points at which the inner ends of said transverse levers are pivotally connected to said truck and by said virtual central vertical axis; and means for preventing relative longitudinal movement of said bogie and said truck and including a pair of longitudinally spaced transverse bearing surfaces on said bogie located in said mean longitudinal plane of the vehicle, and a pair of transverse bearing surfaces on said truck also located in said mean longitudinal plane of the vehicle and respectively engaging said bearing surfaces on said bogie and maintaining engagement with the same in any relatively turned position of said bogie and truck.

9. A bogie mounting arrangement as set forth in claim 8 and including another pair of transverse levers having inner ends pivotally connected to said truck, and another longitudinal lever pivotally connected at the ends thereof to the outer ends of said other transverse levers, and being pivotally connected to said bogie at a point located in said mean transverse plane of the vehicle.

10. A bogie mounting arrangement as set forth in claim 9 wherein said inner ends of said first mentioned transverse levers are spaced in transverse and longitudinal directions from said inner ends of said other transverse levers.

11. In a rail vehicle, in combination, a bogie; a truck mounted on said bogie; at least one lateral stress-transmitting lever assembly comprising a pair of parallel transverse levers located at least mainly to one side of the mean longitudinal plane of the vehicle and having inner ends articulated to said truck, and a longitudinal lever pivotally interconnecting the outer ends of said transverse levers and being pivotally connected to said bogie at a point located in the mean transverse plane of the vehicle, said transverse levers being spaced from the mean transverse plane of the vehicle and located on opposite sides of said mean transverse plane of the vehicle, and said longitudinal lever being spaced from the mean longitudinal plane of the vehicle to provide space for at least a portion of a drive unit for the vehicle, said lever assembly connecting said bogie and said truck for relative turning movement about a virtual central vertical axis; and means for preventing relative longitudinal movement of said bogie and said truck and including a pair of longitudinally spaced transverse bearing surfaces on said bogie located in said mean longitudinal plane of the vehicle, and a pair of transverse bearing surfaces on said truck also located in said mean longitudinal plane of the vehicle and respectively engaging said bearing surfaces on said bogie and maintaining engagement with the same in any relatively turned position of said bogie and truck.

12. A bogie mounting arrangement as set forth in claim 11 and including another pair of transverse levers having inner ends pivotally connected to said truck, and another longitudinal lever pivotally connected at the ends thereof to the outer ends of said other transverse levers, and being pivotally connected to said bogie at a point located in said mean transverse plane of the vehicle.

13. A bogie mounting arrangement as set forth in claim 12 wherein said inner ends of said first mentioned transverse levers are spaced in transverse and longitudinal directions from said inner ends of said other transverse levers.

14. In a rail vehicle, in combination, a bogie; a truck mounted on said bogie; at least one lateral stress-transmitting lever assembly comprising a pair of parallel transverse levers located at one side of the mean longitudinal plane of the vehicle and having inner ends articulated to said truck at longitudinally spaced points located in the mean longitudinal plane of the vehicle, and a longitudinal lever pivotally interconnecting the outer ends of said transverse levers and being pivotally connected to said bogie at a point located in the mean transverse plane of the vehicle, said transverse levers being spaced from the mean transverse plane of the vehicle, and said longitudinal lever being spaced from the mean longitudinal plane of the vehicle to provide space for at least a portion of a drive unit for the vehicle, said lever assembly connecting said bogie and said truck for relative turning movement about a virtual central vertical axis; and means for preventing relative longitudinal movement of said bogie and said truck and including a pair of longitudinally spaced transverse bearing surfaces on said bogie located in said mean longitudinal plane of the vehicle, and a pair of transverse bearing surfaces on said truck also located in said mean longitudinal plane of the vehicle and respectively engaging said bearing surfaces on said bogie and maintaining engagement with the same in any relatively turned position of said bogie and truck.

15. A bogie mounting arrangement as set forth in claim 14 wherein said inner ends of said transverse levers are located on one side of said mean transverse plane.

16. A bogie mounting arrangement as set forth in claim 14 wherein said inner ends of said transverse levers are located on opposite sides of said mean transverse plane equally spaced from the same, and wherein said longitudinal lever is pivotally connected at the ends thereof to the outer ends of said transverse levers.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 450,157 Hubbard Apr. 14, 1891 805,105 Timmis Nov. 21, 1905 1,266,565 Eaton May 21, 1918 1,728,832 Kjolseth Sept. 17, 1929 2,515,812 Waldvogel et al. July 18, 1950 2,620,743 Taylor Dec. 9, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 489,863 Italy Jan. 29, 1954 762,454 Great Britain Nov. 28, 1956 1,057,459 France Oct. 28, 1953 OTHER REFERENCES Krauss-Matfei A.G. German application, Serial No. K 13647, printed December 1, 1955. 

1. IN A RAIL VEHICLE, IN COMBINATION, A BOGIE; A TRUCK MOUNTED ON SAID BOGIE; AT LEAST ONE LATERAL STRESS-TRANSMITTING LEVER ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A PAIR OF PARALLEL TRANSVERSE LEVERS LOCATED AT LEAST MAINLY TO ONE SIDE OF THE MEAN LONGITUDINAL PLANE OF THE VEHICLE AND HAVING INNER ENDS ARTICULATED TO SAID TRUCK, AND A LONGITUDINAL LEVER PIVOTALLY INTERCONNECTING THE OUTER ENDS OF SAID TRANSVERSE LEVERS AND BEING DIRECTLY PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID BOGIE, SAID TRANSVERSE LEVERS BEING SPACED FROM THE MEAN TRANSVERSE PLANE OF THE VEHICLE, AND SAID LONGITUDINAL LEVER BEING SPACED FROM THE MEAN LONGITUDINAL PLANE OF THE VEHICLE TO PROVIDE SPACE FOR AT LEAST A PORTION OF A DRIVE UNIT FOR THE VEHICLE, SAID LEVER ASSEMBLY CONNECTING SAID BOGIE AND SAID TRUCK FOR RELATIVE TURNING MOVEMENT ABOUT A VIRTUAL CENTRAL VERTICAL AXIS; AND MEANS FOR PREVENTING RELATIVE LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT OF SAID BOGIE AND SAID TRUCK AND INCLUDING A PAIR OF LONGITUDINALLY SPACED TRANSVERSE BEARING SURFACES ON SAID BOGIE LOCATED IN SAID MEAN LONGITUDINAL PLANE OF THE VEHICLE, AND A PAIR OF TRANSVERSE BEARING SURFACES ON SAID TRUCK ALSO LOCATED IN SAID MEANS LONGITUDINAL PLANE OF THE VEHICLE AND RESPECTIVELY ENGAGING SAID BEARING SURFACES ON SAID BOGIE AND MAINTAINING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE SAME IN ANY RELATIVELY TURNED POSITION OF SAID BOGIE AND TRUCK. 